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France puts three suspects planning "imminent attack" under formal investigation

Xinhua, February 15, 2017 Adjust font size:

Three suspects arrested last week in the southern French town of Montpellier have been placed under formal investigation, local media reported.

Anti-terrorist judges late on Tuesday placed under formal investigation Thomas Sauret, 20, his underaged girlfriend, Sarah, and Malik Hammami, 33, on charges of "criminal conspiracy in connection with a criminal terrorist enterprise" and "manufacture and possession of explosives in an organized gang."

The three suspects had been planning "an imminent attack," targeting the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Comedy Square in Montpellier, according to local reports.

Sauret had tried to join Islamist insurgents in Syria in November 2015. His 16-year girlfriend had recorded a video in which she pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) on Feb. 8.

Last Friday, four people were detained in and around Montpellier. Three of them were suspected of preparing violent action on the territory during a raid by anti-terrorism units.

Risks of terrorist attacks remain high in France where a state of emergency has been in effect since a group of terrorists killed 130 people in a series of explosions and shootings on Nov. 13, 2015. Endit